Sample-taking device



orifice.

RED'US D. DODDS, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

SAMPLE-TAKING DEVICE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr.. 5, 1921.

Application lediNovember 14, 1919. Serial No. 338,134.

T 0 all whom it 'may concern Bey it known that T, REDUS D. Dones, a citizen of' the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sample-Taking Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a devicefor taking samples from wells.

One object of the invention is to pro-vide a sample taking device whereby samples of the formation may be taken from a well at any depth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sample taking device, which is specially adapted for taking samples from hard formation, such as rock or other similar strata, being pierced in drilling a well.

A' further feature resides in the provision of a means for sealing ofi" the water from the sample as it is being withdrawn.

With the above and other objects in view thei invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is 'given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings Figure 1, shows a vertical sectional viewY of the device and F ig. 2 shows a vertical sectional view in engagement with the sample to be taken.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a tubular section which is attached to the drill stem and to the lower end of which the shoe 2 is attached, the lower end of said shoe being serrated forming the teeth 3. This shoe has a central opening to provide for the admission of the sample up through the same and within said shoe there is an annular seat 4, whose inner wall is provided with a plurality of downwardly converging slots 5.

Vithin the drill stem thereis a tubular section 6, having opposing bearings 7 7, through which the pins 8, 8 operate, the outer ends of said pins normally seating in the recesses 9, 9 in the inner wall of the section 1, while the device is in operation and before the sample is to be withdrawn. The pins 8, are iXed to the upper ends of the respective levers 10, 10 and these levers eX- tend down through an opening 11, in the annular anchor 12, which is iXed within the section 6. Said levers are p-ivoted in said A anchor and their lower ends carry iat springs 10', 10 which press them inwardly and normally hold said pins seated in their recesses.

Wedge shaped dogs 13, whose inner faces are toothed, are seated on the converging faces of the slots 5 and work through corresponding slots 14, out through the lower end of the core barrel 15, which is located within the section 6, and whose lower end is threaded into the seat 4. The dogs 13 vare connected to the lower end of the section 6 by means of a coil Spring 16, which surrounds said core barrel.

The| drill'stem is rotated from the surface of the ground by means of the ordinary rotary and while' being rotated the pins 8 project into'the recesses 9 and hold the section 6 elevated, relative to the drill stem. By this rotation the shoe 2 is driven downwardly into the strata and a core 17 passes upwardly into the core barrel 15.

The collar,18, which connects the section 1 to the drill stem 19, has the openings 20, 20 therein, which are controlled by the valves 21, 21. These valves are fastened to the respective arms 22, 22, whose upper ends are hinged to said collar and whose free ends project downwardly beyond said valves and rest against the outside of the upper end of the section 6, while the sample core is being formed, and holld said valves closed to force the water on down through the section 6, to the cutting teeth of the shoe. When it is desired to withdraw said sample, a weight 23, is dropped down through the Stem into section 1 and it forces the lower ends of the arms 10, 10 apart unseating the pins 8 from the recesses 9. The lower end of the weight 23 is rounded olf and fits' into and closes the annular seat 24, which is anchored in the section 6, and whichthen sustains said weight. A cup shaped ring 27 is interposed between the sections 1 and 6 and secured to the latter, and the pressure of water within the barrel against said ring forces said section 6 downwardly, which forces the dogs inwardly into engagement with the core. When the pump pressure is cut ofi, the reaction of the spring 16 then raises the section 6 a short distance, causing the outwardly flared upper end of said section to engage on the outside of the free ends of the arms and open the valves 21. At the same time the upper ends of the iieXible fingers 25, 25, whose lower ends are fastened to the outside of section 6 and whose upper ends are free, engage in the notches 26, 26 cut in the inner wall of the section l and thereby lock said section against Jfurther upward movement, which operates to hold said dogs in engagement with the sample core.

The entire device is then withdrawn from the bore carrying the sample with it. Vhile withdrawing the device the water in the stem is permitted to drain out through the openings 20. The cup shaped ring 27 interposed between the sections l and 6 forms a seal between said sections to ho-ld pump pressure and the seat 24 being closed by the weight 23, all water is thus shut olf from the core barrel.

What I claim is:

A device of the character described including a drill stem, provided with a side opening, a core forming shoe attached to the lower end thereof and provided with an opening to permit the passage of the core therethrough, a core barrel within said stem and provided with side slots, dogs working through said slots, a tubular member within the stem around said barrel to the lower end of which the dogs are connected, means for locking said member in a fixed position in the stem, means for releasing said locking means to permit said tubular member to face against the dogs to force them into engage ment with the core, said means when in active position sealing said member against the passage of water downwardly therethrough, a valve controlling the side opening in said stem, means normally holding said valve closed, said tubular member acting to open the valve when released.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

REDUS D. DODDS.

IVitnesses E. V. HARDWAY, ALBERTA ALLEN. 

